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What may be translated as, “Prayer at fixed hours has been enjoined upon the believers.”
(An-Nisaa’, 04:103) Allaah made the time for the five daily prayers clear through Jibreel:
▪ On the authority of Jaabir bin ‘Abdillaah , the angel Jibreel came to the Messenger of Allaah and said to him, “Stand and pray,” and they prayed the noon prayer when
the sun had passed its meridian. He then came to him for the afternoon prayer and
said, “Stand and pray,” and they prayed the afternoon prayer while the length of a
shadow of something was similar to the length of the object. Then he came at sunset
and said, “Stand and pray,” and they prayed the sunset prayer when the sun had just
disappeared. Then he came at night and said, “Stand and pray,” and they prayed the
night prayer when the twilight had disappeared. He came again when dawn broke
(and they prayed the morning prayer). Then Jibreel came on the next day at noon and
said (to the Messenger of Allaah ), “Stand and pray,” and they prayed the noon
prayer when the length of the shadow of something was close to the length of the
object. Then he came for the afternoon prayer and said, “Stand and pray,” and they
prayed when the shadow of something was twice as long as the length of the object.
Then he came at the same time (as the previous day) for the sunset prayer, without
any change. Then he came for the night prayer after half of the night had passed (or
he said, “one-third of the night”). Then he came when the sky was very yellow and
said, “Stand and pray,” and they prayed the morning prayer. Then Jibreel said,
“Between these times are the times for the prayers.” (Recorded by Ahmad, An-Nasaa’i
and At-Tirmidhi; Al-Bukhaari observes, “It is the most authentic report concerning the
prayer times.”)